strange and random happenstance: Pink Carnation Spotlight

Eloise Kelly. I have been trying to cast you for years. Literally. I have tried every red-haired actress I could think of and every single one of them fell short. While re-reading all your adventures this past year your humor and your clumsiness shone out like a beacon guiding me to the perfect actress to bring you to life.

Name: Ellie Kemper

"Dream" Character Casting for the Lauren Willig Miniseries: Eloise Kelly

First Impression: While I am not at all a fan of The Office, because I am true to the original British version, this is the first place I saw Kellie Kemper as poor Andy's love interest.

Why they'd be the perfect actor for the Lauren Willig Miniseries: Aside from being able to perfectly bring out the clumsy red-head aspect of Eloise, it's the range of Kemper that is amazing. Yes, she's known mainly just for comedy, in fact almost only comedy, but there are moments of true heart and depth in each of her performances. Plus there's just something about her that makes me think she'd totally wear a Regency dress to a Halloween party. Call it a hunch.

Lasting Impression: Bridesmaids! But then again, there isn't anything in this movie that didn't make a lasting impression; from the bathroom scene to Chris O'Dowd to that one lone cupcake. But Kemper will probably best be known for making out with Wendi McLendon-Covey before being thrown off a plane. Though I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why they don't wear the bridesmaids dresses from the movie poster in the movie. Yes, this is a weird thing that really annoys me. More then the fact that it's so not filmed in Wisconsin and Illinois.

What else you've seen them in: The Mindy Project, Sex Tape, Robot Chicken, 21 Jump Street, if it's a comedy show or movie with that little clique of people from NBC comedies, like The Office and 30 Rock, or the Apatow mafia, she's there. But I think most importantly she's the star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. This is her first staring role and she totally proves that females are strong as hell! There's just such optimism and joy that emanates from her that you can't but fall in love with this show. Plus, if you're a child of the 90s, love that throwback slang!

Can't believe it's them: Important thinks with Demetri Martin. Mainly because I really dislike him. I mean really really dislike him. Seriously, I can't watch anything with him in it even if it contains someone I really like, like Ellie Kemper. This also explains why I've never watched House of Lies despite my love of Kristen Bell.

Wish they hadn't: Get Him to the Greek. Seriously. This was a very unnecessary sequel to the fabulous Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I will say though that if they were to re-edit the movie as a mockumentary focusing on the music and eliminating Jonah Hill and Elisabeth Moss, who I actually hate more than Jonah Hill, it might be a fabulous parody in the vein of This is Spinal Tap. Because, I am not kidding here, the soundtrack is amazingly awesome. The song parodies with Russell Brand just nail each genre they a skewering. And Rose Byrne's Jackie Q isn't half bad either.

Bio: Born and raised in Missouri she has the odd distinction of knowing Jon Hamm before he became famous. Ellie Kemper was a student at John Burroughs School in St. Louis where Jon Hamm was her drama teacher. They have ironically gone on to star together on the big and small screens. While being a studious scholar from Princeton to Oxford, she never gave up acting and doing improve. But comedy and comedy writing is in her blood, her sister and her husband are television writers and she has contributed to The Onion as well as McSweeney's. While she was turned down by SNL and Parks and Recreation, it was the second of these auditions that led to her role on The Office. Since then her career has just been on the rise and with getting the title role in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt she is sure to be around and lauded for years to come.